Western European Russia

Introducing Western European Russia

With its birch forests, idyllic rivers and endless rolling steppe, Western European Russia is an enticing vision straight out of Russian folklore. Those seeking the soul of Old Rus would do well to explore this historically rich region, as the charming old villages, photogenic fortress towns and gold-domed monasteries are just part of the lure.

Novgorod, founded over 1000 years ago, occupies a pivotal place here. Its claim as the birthplace of modern Russia can be experienced in its red-brick ramparts, ancient churches and inspiring vistas along the meandering Volkhov River. Other striking kremlin towns include Pskov and Smolensk, both set along scenic rivers and with a colourful past that began well before the Mongols swept through the land. Smolensk is also famed for its well-known native son, Mikhail Glinka, widely regarded as the founder of Russian orchestral music. The symphony hall where he conducted is still a fantastic place to hear live concerts throughout the year.

Some of Russia's greatest writers hail from this region. In Mikhailovskoe, Pushkin's ancestral home, travellers can stroll the serene lake shore that inspired one of Russia's greatest poets. For an equally bucolic experience, step back into the 19th century at Staraya Russa, a sleepy town of blue- and green-painted wooden houses, an ambling river and the house of Dostoevsky, who set The Brothers Karamazov there.

This region also encompasses Kaliningrad, one of Russia's more elusive destinations, with six centuries of Prussian history. Geographically isolated from the rest of Russia, this small wedge facing the Baltic makes for some fascinating exploration. It boasts a lively, youthful city and some lovely countryside that includes the Curonian Spit, a long, narrow strip of land backed with sand dunes and lined with wildlife-filled forests. In addition to Kaliningrad, this region comprises the areas between Moscow and St Petersburg up to the borders of Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine.